Brazil 0-3 Argentina – Beijing Olympics men’s football semi-final

A crying shame

Brazil’s dream of an Olympic Gold ended in spectacular style after they were thumped 3-0 by archenemies Argentina in the Worker’s stadium in Beijing.

Second-half goals from Aguero (two) and a penalty from Riquelme gave Argentina the victory they deserved and a place in the final vs Nigeria on Saturday.

After stumbling past Belgium, New Zealand, China and Cameroons, Brazil came up well short in their first real test of the tournament.

Brazil hit the woodwork twice but there can be no real complaints about the result. For most of the match, Brazil played with an overly defensive midfield and one man up front. It wasn’t until the 70^th minute when Brazil were two goals down that Dunga threw on Jô to partner Alexandre Pato. Late in the match Lucas and Thiago Neves were sent off – both for taking swipes at Mascherano – but the outcome of the game had been decided well before they went.

Brazil now face the ignominy of having to compete with Belgium for the Bronze on Friday. Brazil return to World Cup qualifying action away to Chile in early September.

Brazil will take few positives from their showing in the competition. Not many players demonstrated that they could command a regular place in the senior squad – the exceptions could be Rafinha, Marcelo, and Rafael Sóbis.  

But perhaps the best thing to come out of this flop could be the end of Dunga’s lamentable spell in charge. Brazil have rarely shined under the coach. And though this is partially down to player’s performances; the bulk of the responsibility rests with Dunga and his overly-defensive posture and inability to use correctly the talent at his disposal.

Dunga’s preoccupation with the opposition has taken Brazil several steps back. And with rare exceptions, the South American’s performances have been devoid of the panache that made them famous throughout the world.  

With Brazil also struggling in the World Cup qualifiers, the pressure to remove Dunga will be immense and Brazil’s football confederation might do all the fans of Brazilian football a favour and decide it’s time to let him go.

Argentina: Romero, Garay, Monzon, Zabaleta, Pareja, Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria, Riqhelme (Sosa), Messi, Agüero
Coach: Sérgio Batista

Brazil: Renan, Rafinha, Alex Silva, Breno, Marcelo, Lucas, Hernanes (Thiago Neves), Anderson, Diego (Jô); Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Rafael Sóbis (Alexandre Pato)
Coach: Dunga

Venue: worker’s stadium, Beijing  
Date: 19 August 2008
Referee: Martíns Vázques (Uruguay) 

Yellows: Zabaleta, Pareja & Garay (ARG); Breno, Hernanes & Ânderson (BRA)

Reds: Lucas & Thiago Neves (BRA)
Goals: ARGENTINA: Agüero x2, Riquelme